Bicycle-frame.



Phten'tad Doc. ID, l90l.

R. I. KEATING. BICYCLE FRAME.

(Application filed Sept. 4, 1897. Renewed Sept. 5, 1901.)

(In lodel!) m: Noam: PETERS coy. Pucmumou WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ROBERT M. KEATING, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO R. M.KEATING MOTOR COMPANY, .OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPO- RATION OF. MAINE.

BlCYCLE-FR-AM E.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters rat nt No. 688,419, dated December'10, 1901. Application filed September 4, I897. Renewed September 5,1901. SerialNo. 74,378. (No model.)

To all whom it mar/ concern;

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. KEATING, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in Springfield, in the county of Hampden 5 and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bicycle-Frames, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference markedthereon. 1

My invention relates especially to bicycleframes for ladies wheels.Difficulty has been experienced heretofore in the construction of framesfor bicycles for ladies use in obtaining sufficient strength at theintermediate portion of the frame without adding unduly to the weight orwithout destroying the drop feature of the frame necessary fora wheelfor ladies use and without destroying'the desirable harmony and beautyof construction of the frame.

The object of my invention is to produce a bicycle-frame of thecharacter described, the

same being strengthened at the weaker point by metal of greaterstrength; and my object is, further,,to produce a frame of the drop typewhereinthe main bar is of like exterior diameter from end to end andwith the intermediate portion, which is subjected to the greateststrain, so constructed that it has all the requisite strength and toconstruct a frame which will be free from the objectionable featuresheretofore existing.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of referenceindicate like parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the framecomplete, and Fig. 2 is a sideviewof theU- shaped portion of the mainbar on an en-, larged scale with a part shown in section.

In detail, a indicates the upper U-shaped part of the main bar; b, theforward part of the main bar; 0, the rearward part; d, tenons extendingfrom the upper U-shapedpart a into the other parts of the main bar; eand f, braces; g, crank-axle'bracket; h, lower front bar; 2', lower rearbars; j, upper rear bars, and it head.

The construction of my device will be readily understood on reference tothe drawings.

vention.

in a bicycle-"frame adapted for ladies use the weaker portion oftheframe resides in the intermediate portion, (indicated by the letter a,)which part is subjected while the frame is in use to the greateststrain. To overcome this objectionable feature and provide at thedesired point in the frame sufficient strength and at the same time toavoid theIappearance .exteriorly of supplying additional material, I

construct the main bar of three parts,the intermediate part a beingconstructed of heavy or thick material and the remaining portions beingconstructed of a lighter material, thus giving the requisite strengthatthe point subjected to the greatest strain. I

While I prefer that the intermediate U- shaped part a should beconstructed of tubular material, (and it will be foundin practice thatthis gives the requisite strength,) it will readily be seen that if thisportion be constructed of solid material such construe tion will notdepart from the spirit of my in- The end portions of the U-shaped part aare provided with projections 0r tenons d of less diameter than the bodyportion, these tenons being of a size to enter and fit snugly in thetubular parts I) and c, and .all of the parts being, as before stated,by preference of the same exterior diameter.

The frame herein referred to is also provided with a lowercurved frontbar h, extending from the crank axle bracket forwardly and upwardlyincurved lines to the head and arranged on the same vertical plane fromend to end with the U-shaped bar, as shown in Fig. 1, and shortconnecting-bars eandfare arranged between and'connected with the mainbar and the lower front bar, as shown in said figure, thus providing atruss construction adjacent to and in advance of the crank-axle bracketand giving to the frame at this point great-strength and rigidity.

At the middle of the bend of the U -shaped bar a, is formed a shortdepending stud-brace 8, having formed on its lower end atransversely-disposed horizontal sleeve 15, formed with a longitudinalopening therethrough,

constituting the crank-axle bracket g, as

shown in the drawings. The rear bars 2' t' and the lower front curvedbar h are connected to the crank-bracket in anywell-known manner. Itwill be perceived that this particular construction forms a strongsupport for the crank-bracket and at the same time braces the upper andlower elements of the frame strongly together at a point or part whereit is essential to have rigidity and strength given to the several partsof the frame so connected.

The rear bars j extend from the upper portion of the main bar rearwardlyand downwardly to the rear-wheel brackets, and the lower rear bars 2'extend from the rear-wheel brackets to the crank-axle bracket.

Having, therefore, described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isa The drop-frame for a bicycle hereindescribed, comprising a vertically disposed steering-post, a flaringU-shaped upper bar having its front bar or arm connected to the upperportion of the steering-post and formed with a. vertically-dependingstud-brace s at the middle of the curve of the U-shaped bar andterminating in a transversely-disposed horizontal sleeve constitutingthe crank-axle bracket, an upwardly-curved lower bar It arranged in thesame vertical plane from end to end as the U-shaped bar and having itsends connected to the steering-post and crankaxle bracket, brace -studse f bracing the curved bars in front of the crank-axle bracket, lowerhorizontal bars i i fixed to the crankbracket and their outer endsformed to carry the rear wheel, and forked bars j j connecting the endsof the bars 2' z' with the upper end of the rearbranch or arm of theU-shaped bar, substantially as specified. 7

ROBERT M. KEATING. Witnesses: Y ALLEN WEBSTER, JOHN A. KEATING.

